Times of Tony

Loki eyed the man of iron as he walked down his estranged walkway, his only line of defense being shed. He hid his smirk as he entered the large tower, preparing his small speech and planning out his next few moves. Though when the mortal walked in, he looked odd.

"I think your...machine needs some adjustments."

It appeared as though the armor had not come off properly. The man's right leg, left arm, upper right arm, and neck still had armor on. "Actually my machine works just fine." he snarked, casually making his way to the bar.

"Please tell me you're going to appeal for my humanity."

Loki decided it wasn't worth his time to ask any further, so continued his earlier plans.

"Uh, actually, i'm planning to threaten you."

"You should have left all your armor on for that."

     The bickering lasted awhile before Loki's plans were foiled, and New York was saved. As for the current situation; they were having a Mexican janitor eyeing them wearily as they enjoyed the shwarma. Everyone would have to split up for a while, but had agreed (after a very long and tiring argument with one, Nick Fury) that they would form their superhero team and live together in the tower. Which meant that they would find out everything Tony avoided people knowing; but after saving the world together (and Natasha not stabbing him in the back a second time) he figured that he could survive with them knowing a few of his little not-so-secret secrets. Tony took another large bite of his strange sandwich, trying to shift so his armor's weight so it wouldn't break the poor wooden chair below him.

     This was the moment, the moment they'd know the real Tony Stark for what he actually was. Broken with pieces missing, was his best way of putting it. The team shrugged off this warning, Bruce mentioning that they all had issues. Oh boy, this was going to be an interesting next few minutes. They landed on the tower's pad; Tony strode over to the armor-removing-moving circle. (Yep, totally what he named it.) He couldn't help the sudden shortening of breath, and wow, did it get hot in here J.a.r.v.i.s, and holy shit nope nope nope I can't do this. The moving circle froze in air as he quickly took flew off to his lab entrance.

     He knew his new tenants were waiting upstairs, probably confused at his sudden retreat, but he. couldn't. do. this. He shed the armor, than stopped in front of a mirror. (One he kept in the lab for on-body armor adjustments) Tony just couldn't breathe, the reactor wasn't having any issues, but he always felt it's weight during times like this. Only Pepper and Rhodey have ever seen him without the armor on. Well, and agent, but that's a story for another time. (A hilarious one to tell the team, if he ever gets his ass back out there.)

"J.a.r.v.i.s, guide them to their rooms please. Let them know i'll see them first thing in the morning."

 "Very well sir, but I recommend, as you would put it, 'getting it over with.'"

"And that's exactly what I'm doing J, tomorrow."

"Ok, so yay for breakfast and this completely amazing tower, but is Tony EVER going to actually grace us with his presence?"

     Thor and the Captain were investigating the state of the art kitchen appliances, while Bruce, Nat, and himself were munching on some toast. They'd figured the billionaire had merely had work to do after skipping out on them last night, but they were getting impatient. Whether they liked it or not, they were all fairly excited to have a family to call their own. Even if it was with Stark.

"Sir is currently..working on something. I advise patients, Agent Barton."

"Is everything alright, J.a.r.v.i.s? It didn't seem like he was looking forward to us living here with him."  Steve frowned at the ceiling. If Tony hadn't been comfortable with them invading his home, he could have just said something!

"Sir is very elated to have, and I quote, 'the most badass family of super-people sharing a house.' As I stated previously, I simply advise patience."

Natasha's warning bells went off at the way J.a.v.r.v.i.s said that. "There's something he hasn't told us; something that you aren't telling us either."

"Fwat hahsn't heh tohold ahs?"  Clint asked, as he shoved more toasted bread into his mouth.

"Sir has not givin' me permission to reveal that data." the AI answered, almost regretfully. "I do believe that it may be a while until he is..able to come up from his lab."

"Is the Man of Iron not well?" Thor had ceased his attempts at working the toaster, and let Bruce finish making Tony's plate.

"Sorry, sorry! Had some random upgrades and science-y things that couldn't be left unattended."

   Tony rushed through the kitchen, ignoring everyone's stares, grabbing his plate. He took a seat at the island table, shoveling down the food so he could aviod questions. He decided that instead of just showing or even telling them about it, to wear sweatpants, a hoodie, and a scarf in the middle of summer instead. Best plan ever.

"Stark, are you ok?" Natasha's stare was more computing, with some small hints of concern floating around.

"Never been better, actually. I'm a member of the most amazing superhero team ever gathered, after all." He practically threw his plate into the sink in his haste. "So I was thinking, story night? Doing some team bonding this evening with pizza or sushi or whatever, telling some awesome stories, yeah? But until then, I am needed by science bye." And with that, he was already gone.

"Uhh, what just happened?" Bruce asked after a few short seconds.

"He's going to tell us tonight, it seems." Natasha replied as she left the kitchen.

       And so, story night. They all gathered in the giant TV room, Tony still wearing his strange get-up. Thor had just finished a strange tale about his childhood, and all eyes turned to him. He took a deep breathe and began.

"Once upon a time," everyone groaned, Clint threw a piece of popcorn at him. "There was a boy who lived a mostly normal life. He could create incredible things, and lived in very large house."

   Bruce smiled to himself, the team knew this story was about him. Natasha was the only worried one, it seemed.

"He had a mother who was normal, a father who was complicated, and a super-butler who never left his side." Another breathe. "But one day, his super-butler was tasked with something besides watching over him. And during that day, the boy was all alone. It was on that day-"

Everyone tried to ignore how tense he sounded.

"Some jealous businessmen wanted to steal the boy. They thought he could make their company better weapons."

Now everyone was tense, all trying to put the pieces together, why was he telling them this?

"They broke into his house using bombs near his bedroom."

Silence.

"The boy..." Tony chocked a bit. This was it, his confession. "Didn't end up going with them, but he was never the same."

Small gasp from Steve.

"The boy barley survived, and he..lost some things to those men." Tony slowly removed the jacket, and scarf. More gasps. "His father, though having a complicated love-hate relationship with the boy, assisted him with building those parts; so perhaps the boy could be whole again. And he did. But, the boy remained broken, his limbs can remove, except for the neck piece, and join with the rest of the Iron Man armor."

The others face's had complex emotions on display, various levels of pity, shock, sadness, understanding. Tony's face was dark, but then he actually began to smile, startling the team.

"But then the boy started living with the most kick-ass superhero team ever assembled!"

His smile was contagious, he rarely ever gave a real one.

"It made him feel a little less incomplete, so they boy lived happily ever after!"

Clint chucked the entire bowl of popcorn at him.